Imanol Erviti looks set to join Ineos Grenadiers' staff following retirement

The recently retired Imanol Erviti looks set to join Ineos Grenadiers as a staff member in his first post-racing position.

With the likes of Rod Ellingworth, Roger Hammond, Ben Williams and Matteo Tosatto having left Ineos Grenadiers' backroom staff over the past six months, the need for reinforcements was clear.

Now, Erviti's acquisition looks likely after he was pictured with the team in Mallorca.

Erviti would join fellow Spaniards Adrián Lopez, Xabier Zandio and Xabier Artetxe on the Ineos coaching staff, and it was Artetxe's post on Instagram that revealed the former Movistar man's presence with the team in Spain.

Plenty of the team's staff and riders have gathered in Port de Alcudia for the December team camp, including Egan Bernal, who appeared to accidentally leak their new jersey for 2024.

• Read more: Did Egan Bernal accidentally leak Ineos Grenadiers' 2024 kit?

Erviti's arrival at Ineos Grenadiers was first mooted by the Diario de Notices website, which linked the Spaniard with a position in the backroom staff for 2024, and Artetxe's post seemingly confirms the news.

With Movistar since 2005, but Erviti will begin his coaching career at Ineos Grenadiers

The professional peloton will ride on without Erviti for the first time since 2004 next year, with the Spaniard pulling the curtain down on his esteemed career following Il Lombardia in October.

Over his 19 years in the pack, Erviti established himself as one of the most highly-respected domestiques in the world and was known across the peloton as a commanding road captain.

It is perhaps no surprise then that he will quickly turn his attention to a leadership position post-retirement. Now 40 years of age, Erviti has sat and passed his UCI sports director exam, and is fully qualified to join the backroom staff of a WorldTeam in 2024.

Having ridden in Movistar colours dating back to their Caisse d'Epargne days in 2005, many expected Erviti to take up a role with the Spanish team going forward. However, he is now set to be part of the team at Ineos Grenadiers and will form part of the new guard in the wake of Rod Ellingworth's surprise resignation.

• Read more: Rod Ellingworth resigns from Ineos Grenadiers

In the absence of Ellingworth and with Dave Brailsford focused on the wider Ineos Sport group, managing director John Allert is now the most senior figure at Ineos Grenadiers, but whilst a new figurehead has yet to be announced by the British team, Erviti's incoming will likely be roundly welcomed.

His new coaching colleague, Xabier Zandio, was present at a recent tribute ride for Erviti hosted by his home club, Ermitagaña Cycling Club.

The WorldTour team are yet to officially confirm the news of Erviti's arrival and what position he is due to take up is yet to be seen, but the Spaniard will bring with him a bagful of experience that includes 29 Grand Tour starts and 18 Paris-Roubaix appearances - a modern-day record.